of a system of smuggling which degraded both parties to it. Moreover the West Indian islands, particularly Cuba and Hispaniola, desolated by oppression and misgovernment, had been almost abandoned to immense herds of wild cattle, roaming freely over the savannahs and through the woods. Bands of rough men collected to hunt these cattle, which they killed for the horns and hides more than for the flesh. Outcasts of all nations joined them, and they were soon strong enough to undertake plundering expeditions against the peaceful settlements of their neighbours. Presently a band of French and English adventurers took possession of St. Christopher's; they were expelled by the Spaniards, but, returning in greater force, again took it and maintained their hold. Tortuga was seized in the same way; the first settlement was annihilated by the Spaniards with great barbarity, and the island, again seized, became the rendezvous of pirates of all nations, particularly French, English, and Dutch, who made their livelihood by plundering the rich galleons and the neighbouring settlements of the Spaniards. In 1665 Jamaica was taken by the English and became the favourite resort of the buccaneers.

A hundred anecdotes might be told to illustrate the ferocity and the bravery of these outlaws, but the following narrative will show pretty plainly their way of doing business, and will give the reader some insight into their character. At present a few words must be said concerning their customs and habits.

Their laws were unwritten, but well established, and mostly well observed. They had no private property and no domestic ties. Their government was democratic; every one had a voice in it, and they elected their own leaders. Fidelity to the society and fearlessness were the only virtues recognised. Their punishments varied with the offence; the most severe was death; the next, desertion on a barren shore; or island the mildest and the most unusual, banishment from the society.

When they were going on one of their piratical excursions, regular articles of voyage were drawn up and sworn to. The following are the chief heads of the articles agreed upon by Morgan and his men before starting upon the expedition to be described.

The admiral (as they styled their leader) was to have a hundredth part of the booty; a captain, as much as eight common pirates; the surgeons and carpenters, common pirates' shares and extra pay. The loss of two legs was to be repaid by 1500 pieces of eight or fifteen slaves; two hands, by 1800 pieces or eighteen slaves; one leg, by 600 pieces or six slaves, one hand at the same rate, one eye by 100 pieces or one slave. Further rewards were to be granted for actions of distinguished gallantry.

Their clothes were generally shirt and trousers, rendered durable and hideous by dipping them in the blood of slaughtered cattle, buskins, cap, and girdle, in which were stuck a number of pistols, the buccaneer's favourite weapon. The outward forms of religion were by no means unrecognised; a community

sometimes had its chaplain, and enterprises were begun with prayer.

We now proceed to give a sketch of the history of Henry Morgan, one of the most famous of these buccaneers, and of the way in which he took and plundered the city of Panama in 1671.

This Morgan was a Welshman of good family, who went as a sailor when a boy, and had the misfortune, not uncommon in those days, of being sold or apprenticed to a planter in Barbadoes. Escaping thence he got to Jamaica, joined the pirates, and was chosen captain of one of their bands. He conducted a number of expeditions against the Spanish settlements, and amongst others against the towns of Puerto del Principe, because it had never been sacked before,' and Puerto Velo, one of the strongest places in the West Indies. This exploit was thought so remarkable, that the Governor of Panama sent to Morgan to know what arms he had to take Puerto Velo. Morgan sent him back a pistol and bullets, and asked him to be good enough to keep them for a twelvemonth, when he would come and fetch them. The Governor now sent him a gold ring, telling him not to give himself the trouble of coming to Panama, for he would find it a different sort of place from Puerto Velo.

It was not mere bravado on Morgan's part to talk of coming to Panama, as we shall see; but at present his men were too busy spending the riches of Puerto Velo in debauchery and gambling to think of business. They were soon, however, engaged in

a new expedition, for which Morgan collected 960 men and fifteen vessels of small size, the largest carrying fourteen guns. While he was on this cruise he was caught, with a part of his force, in Lake Maracaibo by three Spanish men-of-war, of forty, thirty, and twenty-four guns respectively. The Spaniards demanded submission, but Morgan refused, and not only escaped, but defeated the enemy and destroyed his vessels. He fitted out one of his ships as a fire-ship, dressed up a number of figures like pirates and placed them on the deck, pointed sham guns from the port-holes, hoisted English colours, and then sailed, with the fire-ship leading, against the Spanish squadron. The stratagem was successful. The Spaniards were plundered and burnt, and Morgan returned to head-quarters with 250,000 pieces of eight. His fame was now at its height. Pirates, hunters, planters, flocked to him, and by October, 1670, he had collected such a force, that he determined to accomplish something on a far greater scale than anything yet attempted. Panama was at length fixed upon. There was good reason to think that it would yield an immense booty, and the difficulties of the enterprise perhaps added to its attractiveness.

On 16th December, 1670, everything was ready, and Morgan set sail from Cape Tiburon with 2000 fighting men besides mariners and boys, and a good number of ships. His first destination was the island of St. Catharine, the penal settlement of the Spanish colonies. Here, after suffering great privation, he